December 2017 Newsletter

December 2017 Newsletter

A Note from Your President

Are you making space? Usually the end of a year means cramming in visits, hustling up presents, running to parties and well tons of CRAZY. It certainly can be the good kind but often is stressful. So, take a few breaths as you soak it up.

Speaking is a business, a way of life, a definite choice. You already know this and it was certainly re-emphasized by the spectacular talk Cavett Award winner Randy Pennington gave this year. Once the wave of the holidays is through I challenge you to look back at what worked, what didn’t and what you’re doing for 2018. Seems obvious but you would be surprised by how many people don’t do it.

No map, no direction and you’re throwing darts at a board you have no chance of hitting. Give yourself the gift of direction in 2018. Set the goals, follow through and implement. Even if you miss your intended target I bet you’ll still be happy with your results. So make your list, check it twice and go big in 2018!

December 2017 Program: Booking More Business with Gen Xer and Millennial Decision Makers (and Boomers too)! — with Anna Liotta

Anna Liotta

Decision makers today are a multi-generational diverse mix. As speakers, we must be nimble in customizing our marketing messages, follow-up and offers to match the Generational CODES™ of the buyers of today (not yesterday). This fast-paced, action-focused session will share what each makes each generation of decision makers want to see, hear and know more from speakers and what gets you blocked from getting through.

Three tangible ideas or takeaways that participants will be able to implement into their own business.

By attending this session, participants will:

Learn how to customize their messaging to connect and engage Gen X, Millennial, and Boomer decision makers

Understand what they have been doing that is sabotaging their business with buyers from other generations

Leave with powerful, simple adjustments they can make to elevate their ROI in business development activities

About the Speaker:

Anna Liotta, creator of Generationally Savvy™ Communication Solutions, is an award-winning speaker, business consultant, and author. She engages audiences with her practical strategies for attracting, growing, and retaining top talent and loyal clients from every generation.

Anna integrates communications, sociology, business psychology, and demography to unify workplaces and dramatically improve company performance. Her expertise and insight have helped such companies as Pike Place Fish, Intel, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Amazon, the PGA, NBA, and United Way.

you, the speaker: Get audiences to love you

Chapter member Cherrie Fisher and I were having fun the other day writing a keynote speech. I came up with a keynote formula I’d like to share. Wondering what you think.

We recently heard talks at our Saturday meetings from two Dallas Hall of Famers, Suzie Humphreys and Randy Pennington.

Both made it clear that it no longer matters if audiences love them or not. Suzie said, go for broke and let it rip. Randy said he enjoys bringing up subjects to his audiences that might prove unpopular. He likes to challenge them.

I have an opposite theory. In my newspaper job as an investigative columnist, I make quite a few enemies. I don’t mind that.

On the other hand, when I speak, I want some love. A lot of love. See? It balances out.

My keynote formula is designed to bring that love and win over audience members who may be tired, bored, distracted, ticked or carrying whatever baggage they bring to your 45 minute (mandatory) speaking session.

How do you win them over?

My formula has five parts. You, the speaker, should fit content and stories into each segment to achieve the desired effect.

OK, here we go.

Step 1: She doesn’t suck. In this opening phase the speaker must prove to the audience that this performance will be better than expected. But remember the bar is low. The previous speaker read his entire PowerPoint aloud. How do you do Step 1? You refer to something about your audience in your opener (to show it’s about them), and then launch into – what else? – an opening story. When they hear an opening story, they think, “OK, she doesn’t suck.”

Step 2: She’s actually pretty good. In the second phase, your audience, already charmed by your opener, sees some of your hard content and understands intuitively that you are an expert in your promised subject. And you are helpful! Wow! This speaker is actually pretty good.

Step 3: I like her. Going from pretty good to ‘I like’ is not a huge gap. The more of your personality and authenticity that comes out, the more likely it is that you’ll get a like.

Step 4: I love her. You do something special in this part that’s so memorable that people smile and laugh in amazement. (I do a magic trick with Starbucks cups that illustrates my main point.) People want to love a speaker; but so many speakers are hard to love. This portion comes about 80 percent into the keynote. No time for your peeps to get sleepy or bored. Too much fun. That’s why they love her!

Step 5: I love her so much I’m going to refer her. That’s all we want. In the words of that alien, “Take me to your leader.”

Dean Lindsay: Dean’s newest book, “How to Achieve Big PHAT Goals”; launched this month! The book’s PR campaign kicked into high gear next with an interview for Monster.com with Anne Fisher, the author of the long running “Ask Anne” column for Fortune magazine! Dean gives Special Big PHAT Thank You’s to Kate Delaney and Dianna Booher for their guidance, support and encouragement! To celebrate and show his appreciation for the Chapter, Dean gave a FREE copy of “How to Achieve Big PHAT Goals” to all who wanted one!

Nikki Nanos: Nikki spoke this month to: “You Lead” – Global Youth Leadership! Nikki will also be speaking at both District 25 and District 50 Toastmasters Fall Conferences!

Gary Rifkin, CSP: Gary would like to thank all who sent cards and notes for his Dad’s “mail call” at the end of his military honor flight. He loved them all!

Christine Cashen, CSP: Christine’s new book “It’s Your Business” comes out December 1st!

Donna Mack: Donna spoke to key managers of American Airlines this month on Diversity and Innovation!

Susan Foster: Special Acknowledgement to the National Speakers Association-North Texas Family

I feel your love and it is a warm, welcomed embrace! For your generous donation to the Marshall Foster Memorial Fund, may it be fruitful in saving precious lives through suicide prevention research. With much love and appreciation… Susan & Family

Chapter Meeting Location

For the 2017-18 meeting schedule, we’ll again be meeting a the Hilton Garden Inn located at: